I recently attended a medical conference where very interesting information was presented. Preliminary studies from John Hopkins suggested that erectile dysfunction drugs (e.g. Cialis, Viagra) can stimulate the immune systems of patient�s with head and necks cancers so they can better battle cancer cells. This is interesting information because it is a new approach of treatment with agents so far not used to treat cancer.

Studies performed so far are only test tube ones done in blood samples collected from patients. Although the results are promising clinical studies are needed to evaluate if the administration of erectile dysfunction drugs can be helpful in treating head and neck cancers.

I want to caution that these results are very preliminary and more research is needed. However, they offer hope for new type of treatment in the future.

Itzhak Brook MD

Hey Doc

I was going to post an encouraging "Keep it up" (heh heh) but seriously: any indication ED drugs work to prevent recurrence?
Charm

Sheesh... I could become a downright horndog and it would help with cancer as well - double bonus- but what if I don't have a erectable appendage dis functional or otherwise ? :o0

As much as I would want to I'll defer my comments on the poster boy picture of the treatment of the future until this is studied more.

There would probably be a lot of happy volunteers should research go for human subjects. And if the human subjects are cancer patients undergoing Rad Tx, I wonder how that would work. . . . maybe an additional mask? I agree with David in that more study is in order.

There are currently studies that are conducted in patients with head and neck cancer that are performed in J Hopkins as well as other centers. Hopefully the results will be good. ED agents are considered as singlet herapy , and in combination with chemotherapy and irradiation.
it is good to know that there are potential new avenues of treatment and sometimes some that no one thought about before.

Itzhak Brook MD

Thanks, Dr. B - It is very gratifying to hear how researchers are considering all the many aspects of therapy and applying them in the treatment of oral cancer. If it does have a positive effect on the immune system, would it not follow that it could help in preventing a recurrence of oral cancer?

I googled the ed drug in regard to head and neck cancer and found this VERY interesting so wanted to share the link! I know the study at Johns Hopkins started in 2009 but it does not look like it is ongoing and I can't find any results. They do have current trials with cialis and multiple myeloma so there must be some positive results. BTW...I read that cialis is more effective than viagra because it has a longer drug life...

Best wishes, Robin

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/health&id=7294934

NOW they figure this out!

(thanks for posting, Dr. Brook)

There are some people on this board, who would NOT see a longer half life as an advantage robinleigh

But seriously, interesting idea to dose once a day for 14 days for H&N C(which is when longer half life becomes an advantage). My concern with this article is the doctor's suggestion of being "one of the safest drugs around" (translation: few side effects) ... I beg to differ. What about walking around with an erection for 14 days? And the crushing headache both formulations come with? And isn't there risk of heart attack for those with dicky hearts? Granted the side effects are minimal compared with radiation, but a bit of a misleading statement in my opinion.